People who plan to maintain an aquarium as a hobby often get stumped on whether to use real or artificial plants.
The initial impression one has of aquarium plants is that they are excellent decoration since they make the simulated marine environment of the aquarium look more natural.
Real plants will surely bring out a sense of accomplishment as you are providing your fish with something close to what they have in their natural habitat.
However, you should keep in mind that real plants are living things; they perform functions that artificial plants do not.
Real plants grow, respire, and die.
Because they grow, plants are a self-replenishing source of food especially if your tank is filled with herbivore fish.
Plants also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the water during the day, thus aiding in properly cycling the air in your aquarium.
Live plants also reduce the amount of nitrates in the water, which helps in controlling algae growth.
Lastly, they house beneficial bacteria that contribute to the biological and chemical filtration of your aquarium.
However, the benefits brought by having live plants are also the same things that might make you reconsider and opt for artificial ones instead.
Since fish can nibble on them, they will eventually look a bit unsightly and make your aquarium look less pretty.
In terms of aesthetics, if you happen to have a lot of visitors and like to show off your beautiful aquarium, you may want to have real plants.
However, this only applies if you're willing to maintain them and make sure they look nice at all times.
At night, the respiration process is reversed.
Too many plants may give off too much carbon dioxide, depleting the oxygen in the water, and causing the fish to swim to the top and gasp for air.
There is also a chance that plants can harbor pests and parasites other than the beneficial bacteria.
Finally, when the plants die or when some parts like old leaves start to decay, they become waste instead of decoration.
Obviously, keeping live plants bring maintenance issues that you have to deal with.
With this type of aquarium, you will be taking care of both fish and plants.
Thus, it all boils down to personal preference.
If you think that the benefits you get from real plants are worth the extra time spent in taking care of your aquarium, then go for them.